How long do seeds keep before they fail to germinate?

[Does the Cooking]

I was looking at some seed catalogues. Some of the packets of seeds that I was interested had over 400 seeds in them. I'm not sure that I'd be able to use them in one year. How long would I be able to keep them and find that they would still germinate? In what conditions should I keep them?

Sorry if this is not the appropriate forum on which to post.

[veggiechicken]

This may help How long vegetable seeds can be stored

[Feral007]

I opened a packet yesterday that had 1800 seeds in it.............I might go see what that thread has to say as well

Ok, read that, 1800 divided by 3 years = 600 seeds a year.........best get that boy sowing more carrots tomorrow.
Maybe succession planting 600 divided by say 4 = 150 every two weeks. They'll be beggars to count tho, they are so small.

[veggiechicken]

The question is Feral, can you eat 150 of them every two weeks?
Here's a poem from http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...html#post15157

A POETIC KEY TO SEEDS’ SHELF-LIFE
(EDP 26-10-1991)

You have in your drawer since Candlemas Day
All the seed packets you daren’t throw away
Seed Catalogues cometh as year it doth end
But look in your drawer before money you spend

Throw out ye Parsnip ‘its no good next year
And Scorzonera if there’s any there
For these have a life that is gone with ye wynde
Unlike all seeds of ye cabbagy kinde

Broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and kale
Live long like a farmer who knoweth good ale
Three years for certain, maybe five or four
To sow in their seasons they stay in your drawer

Khol-Rabi lasts with them and so does Pei-Tsai
The winter “cos lettuce” to sow in July
But short is the life of ye Turnips and Swedes
Sow next year only, enough for your needs

Mustard and Cress for when salads come round
Sows for three seasons, so buy half a pound
Radish last four years, both round ones and long
Sow thinly and often, they’re never too strong

Last year’s left Lettuce sows three summers more
And Beetroot and Spinach-Beet easily four
But ordinary Spinach, both prickly and round
Hath one summer left before gaps waste ye ground

Leeks sow three Aprils and one hath gone past
And this is as long as ye Carrot will last
Onion seed keeps till three years have flown by
But sets are so easy and dodge onion fly

Store Marrows and Cucumbers, best when they’re old
Full seven summers’ sowings a packet can hold
Six hath ye Celery that needs a frost to taste
So hath Celeriac, before it goes to waste

Broad Beans, French ones, Runners sown in May
Each hath a sowing left before you throw away
And store Peas, tall Peas, fast ones and slow
Parley and Salsify have one more spring to sow

Then fillen ye form that your seedsman doth send
For novelties plenty, there’s money to spend
Good seed and good horses are worth the expense
So pay them your poundies as I paid my pence


Written by the last Lawrence D Hills, Doubleday Research Association

[Kaiya]

I love that poem - must save it somewhere!

As a comparison I sowed something in the region of 1500 carrot seeds this year. I ended up with approximately 3 carrots, two of which have just been beheaded by slugs. Number of seeds does not necessarily equate to crop size!

[Feral007]

I know Kaiya, but it's Murphy's Law of seeds..............if you sow heaps they'll all come up - or none!

I will save that poem for my son VC - he much more organised than me; he likes to know things before he starts.........I just like to throw the seed in and see what happens. We make a good mix TG!

[Alison]

Pretty much any seed lasts FAR longer than the seed suppliers want you to believe. Even parsnips that aren't supposed to will germinate for a couple of seasons. If you're unsure then do a germination test - you only really get large amounts of the cheaper seeds.